# In which works does Cicero discuss SPQR as a compromise between the Roman government and its people? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2023, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-works-does-cicero-discuss-spqr-as-a-compromise-between-the-roman-government-and-its-people/977627 "2023-01-04T05:16:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-works-does-cicero-discuss-spqr-as-a-compromise-between-the-roman-government-and-its-people/977627/1 "2023-01-04T05:16:28Z")
In which works does Cicero discuss SPQR as a compromise between the Roman government and its people? is it in the Catilinarian Orations? ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-works-does-cicero-discuss-spqr-as-a-compromise-between-the-roman-government-and-its-people/977627/2 "2023-01-04T06:00:01Z")
from Google "…ac se sperare dixerunt, si illud signum, quod videtis, solis ortum, et forum curiamque conspiceret, fore, ut ea consilia, quae clam essent inita contra salutem urbis atque imperii, illustarentur, ut à S.P.Q.R perspici possent (The Bellum Catilinarium of Sallust and Cicero’s Four Orations Against Catiline …by Gaius Sallustius Crispus, Sallust I hope someone can give me a good translation of this. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-works-does-cicero-discuss-spqr-as-a-compromise-between-the-roman-government-and-its-people/977627/3 "2023-01-04T15:11:35Z")
I have one translation which renders it as “And they said that they hoped that if that statue which you now behold looked upon the rising of the sun, and the forum, and the senate-house, that those designs which were secretly formed against the safety of the city and empire would be brought to light so as to be able to be thoroughly seen by the senate and by the Roman people.” ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-works-does-cicero-discuss-spqr-as-a-compromise-between-the-roman-government-and-its-people/977627/4 "2023-01-04T15:47:41Z")
Thanks DPRK. Much better than Google translate. The quote I found doesn’t really solve the question of where Cicero discusses the subject of SPQR as a compromise between the Roman government and its people. I’m still looking. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-works-does-cicero-discuss-spqr-as-a-compromise-between-the-roman-government-and-its-people/977627/5 "2023-01-04T19:30:48Z")
A good place to look for this would be _De re publica_ (“Of the state/republic”), which is Cicero’s most comprehensive treatise on government. One of the central points of this work is the idea that the Roman constitution combined three different forms of government into one: a monarchical element (the consuls), an aristocratic oligarchy (the senate), and democracy (the popular assemblies which elect the magistrates and pass laws). ---
**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2023, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-works-does-cicero-discuss-spqr-as-a-compromise-between-the-roman-government-and-its-people/977627/6 "2023-01-04T21:41:50Z")
Thanks Schnitte.